Mooring system for tanker vessels



Sept. 2,1969 J. F. BRYAN 3,464,466

MOORING SYSTEM FOR TANKER VESSELS Filed Jan. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet lFIG.1

INVENTOR JAMES F. BRYAN Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. BRYAN 3,464,466

MOORING SYSTEM FOR TANKER VESSELS Filed Jan. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2"I," ,U E/IQ f I FIG. 3

INVENTOR JAMES F. BRYAN Sept 2, 1969 J. F. BRYAN MOORING SYSTEM FORTANKER VESSELS Filed Jan. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 2, 1969 J. F.BRYAN 3,464,466

MOORING SYSTEM FOR TANKER VESSELS Filed Jan. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Sept. 2, 1969 J. F. BRYAN 3,464,466

MOORING SYSTEM FOR TANKER VESSELS Filed Jan. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR JAMES F. BRYAN United States Patent 3,464,466 MOORING SYSTEMFOR TANKER VESSELS James F. Bryan, Somerset, N.J., assignor to EssoResearch and Engineering Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan.24, 1967, Ser. No. 611,329 Int. Cl. B63b 21/00 US. Cl. 141-346 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure shows a fixed mooring stationhaving fluid coupling means which can be rotated, raised or loweredsuitably to position the coupling means relative to corresponding meansinstalled in the bulb bow portion of a tanker vessel. Means are providedfor positive engagement of the bulb within a housing in the mooring.

Background of the invention This invention relates to improvements inmooring, loading and discharging systems for marine tanker vessels andthe like, and more particularly, to a mooring adapted to receive bowportions of a tanker vessel therein for the combined purpose of mooringthe vessel and for loading and discharging cargo.

Heretofore many mooring systems have been devised for securing tankervessels off-shore to permit the loading or discharge of cargo throughfluid conduits interconnecting the shore and the vessel. In onecurrently used system the vessel is moored by its bow lines to a mooringstation and cargo discharge or loading is effected through a submergedarm extending to the midship section of the vessel. Another arrangementrequires the use and handling of buoyant hoses from the mooring to thevessels midship section.

Summary of the invention It is a major purpose of the present inventionto eliminate extensions of fluid conduits of the type described byproviding means at the bow of the vessel to load and discharge cargo. Itis a further aspect of the apparatus disclosed that the means formooring the vessel and the fluid loading and discharge means are thesame.

The apparatus of the invention includes a fixed mooring station havingequipment for receiving bow portions of the vessel. The receivingequipment may be operated remotely from the vessel as it makes itsapproach toward the mooring station. Means are provided for rotating andfor raising or lowering the fluid receiving equipment of the mooringstation, such that discharging and loading how portions of the tankermay be received by the mooring station.

In order to form a greater appreciation of the invention, including morespecific aspects thereof, attention is invited to the followingspecification describing a preferred embodiment as illustrated in theaccompany drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of amooring station constructed according to the invention as it may receivethe forebody of a tanker vessel for discharging or loading thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 33 ofFIGURE 2 illustrating a motorized portion of the mooring station forelevating or lowering the tanker receiving equipment;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 44 ofFIGURE 1 showing the means per- 3,464,466 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 icemitting rotation of the outer mooring station structure;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the receivingequipment provided in the mooring station and the forward or bulbportion of the tanker, including tanker discharging and loadingapparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5 showing the fluid conduitmeans of the tanker and mooring station in coupling engagement; and

FIGURE 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 77 of FIGURE 5illustrating opposed clamping means about the fluid coupling conduit ofthe tanker which permits the coupling additionally to act as a mooringdevice.

Description of the preferred embodiment Proceeding now to describe theparticular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, amooring station 10 has been illustrated generally in FIGURE 1 as itmight receive a tanker vessel for loading and discharging cargo. Themooring station (hereinafter referred to as a mooring or station) is ofthe fixed variety in that it comprises a central anchored tripod havinglegs 11, two of which appear in FIGURE 1. The legs 11 are firmlyanchored to a concrete base 12 secured in the ocean floor. At theirupper end the legs 11 are rigidly connected to a circular frame 12.Through the frame 12 passes fluid conduit means 13, which extendsdownwardly beneath the ocean floor as shown, for connection to a shorereceiving installation. The upper end of conduit 13 joins a swivel joint14, permitting 360 rotation of a horizontal conduit 16 about conduit 13.Conduit 16 is further connected to a flexible hose 17 of variable lengthwhich is joined at its lower end to tanker receiving equipment,indicated generally by reference numeral 18.

The mooring 10 further comprises a cylindrical cage having upper andlower rings 19, 20, with interconnecting piles 21. Ring 19 supports aplurality of shock-absorbing members 22 which are connected at theirinner ends to a drive annulus 23. Thus, it will be observed that ring19, annulus 23 and shock-absorbing members 22 comprise a fending systemcapable of absorbing an impact from a vessel brought into the mooring10.

Drive annulus 23 has a ring gear about its inner periphery, and thisgear is in meshing engagement with a drive gear 24. Rotation of gear 24may be caused by a motor 25 to produce rotation of the drive annulus 23,and, through members 22, rotation of the entire cage consisting of rings19, 20 and piles 21. Such rotation is permitted at the lower end of thecage by having a downwardly-projecting base support 26 (see FIGURE 4)enter within the multiple bearing housing 27. Within housing 27 are sideopposing roller bearings 28a and 2811, while support 26 rests upon asecond series of bearings 29.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, a shield 30* in the form of a tetrahedronhaving sides 30a, 30b and 300 is disposed about the periphery of themooring 10. The apices of the shield form tanks 34 which provide neutralbuoyancy. The shield 30 engages and rides upon six of the piles 21 toaccommodate movement of the shield in vertical directions. Referring toFIGURE 3, one of the piles 21 has been shown having a worm 31 engaging apinion 32 which is connected to the structure of the shield 30. Thepinion 32 is driven by an electric motor 33 to cause movement invertical directions of the shield 30. It will be understood that each ofthe six piles 21 (shown in FIGURE 2) is associated with a shieldactuating mechanism identical to that shown in FIGURE 3, and thatenergization of each of the respective driving motors 33 will besynchronized to raise or lower the shield 30. It will be furtherunderstood that such actuation of the motors 33, as well as rotation ofthe drive annulus 23 and thus the cage connected thereto, may beaccomplished by electrical signals sent remotely from a vessel as itapproaches the mooring. Therefore, by the means and structure described,it will be possible for the shield 30 to be placed in prepositionedrelation to a tanker both as to its degree of submergence and angulardirection.

It will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 that the side 300 of the shield 30has been formed to receive bow portions of a tanker vessel 35, includinga portion of the upper bow 36, and a lower protruding bulb 37. As bestseen in FIGURES 5-7, the fluid conduit receiving equipment 18 comprisesan outer circular ring 40 adapted to engage the outer surface of thebulb 37 as the latter is driven toward and into the mooring. The ring 40is secured to the structure of the shield 30 at side 30c thereof.Consequently, the ring 40 may be driven both in rotation and elevationto the approximate depth of the bulb 37 during the tankers approach tothe mooring. As mentioned, this prepositioning will be handled by thecaptain of the vessel, who will be aware of the vessels draft and,allowing for trim, the degree of submergence of the bulb 37. It isrealized that pitching of the vessel (to some extent lessened by theshelter provided by shield 30) will change the effective submergence ofthe bulb 37. However, the arrangement is such that the engagement of anymajor portion of the bulb 37 within the ring 40 will operate to centerthe bulb 37 within the receptical thus formed. This result is aided bythe neutral buoyancy of the shield 30 and by permitting the raising orlowering force imposed by the tanker to override the prepositioningaction of the motors 33.

Four self-adjusting struts 41 are connected by universal fittings 42 tothe ring 40. Each of the struts 41 comprises an inner piston arm 41a andouter cylinder 42 which are engaged telescopically, thereby allowing forlengthwise adjustment. A similar universal coupling is provided at 43between the inner ends of the struts 41 and a second ring 44. The ring44 and a base ring 46, together with intermediate struts 47, define afrusto-conical shaped receiving housing 45 containing fluid conduitcoupling means which will be described.

Base ring 46 mounts a telescopically-movable housing 48 comprising outerand inner sleeves 49 and 50. The latter are telescopically engaged insealed relationship. Mounted to the sleeve 49 are hydraulic rams 51whose actuating arms are connected to the outer end of the inner sleeve50. Thus, by introducing hydraulic fluid under pressure into the ram 51,the inner sleeve 50 may be extended from or retracted within the outersleeve 49-.

Within the inner sleeve 50 adjacent to its outer end there is providedan inflatable annular seal 52 which, as best seen in FIGURE 6, may beactuated to sealingly engage the fluid conduit probe 53, when the latteris extended for such engagement from the bulb 37. Referring to theapparatus Within the bulb 37, it will be seen that the mechanism foradvancing the probe 53 is located entirely therein and consists of anouter cylindrical sleeve 54 which is securely mounted within the cavityformed by the bulb 37. Attached to the sleeve 54 are hydraulic rams 56whose actuating arms 56a are connected at their ends to the inner end530 of the probe 53. The opposite end of probe 53 forms in effect aportion of the exterior of the bulb 37. Fluid openings 53b permit flowfrom the end of the probe.

The arrangement is such that retraction of arms 56a within rams 56 willcause extension of the probe 53 from the bulb cavity toward and into thereceiving housing 48 as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Probe 53 is in furthertelescopic relationship with an inner conduit 59 and is maintained insealing engagement therewith by annular seals 57 and 57'. Conduit 59will be connected at its aft end with a manifold 61, which will be influid connection with the cargo tanks of the vessel.

It will be observed that the ring 44 defines an opening 62 considerablylarger in diameter than the probe 53 to permit misalignment of the probe53 and receiving housing 45 upon initial entry of the probe within thehousing.

As best seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, attached to the inside of ring 44 arefour hydraulically-actuated clamps 63, whose ends 63a may be thrustinwardly to engage about the circumference of probe 53. In the case ofmisalignment of the probe 53 with respect to the axis of the receivingapparatus 48, the action of the clamps 63 will cause the entirereceiving housing to be centered with respect to the axis of the probe53 due to the relative movements permitted by struts 41 and universalcouplings 42'and 43.

The sequence of operation of the foregoing is as follows: the probe 53will first be projected from the bulb 37 through the opening 62 and intothe receiving housing. Thereafter, clamps 63 will be operated to securethe probe 53 and center the receiving housing with respect to the probe.Next, rams 51 will thrust the inner receiving sleeve about the extendedend of probe 53 and into the position of FIGURE 6. Finally, inflatableseal 52 will be actuated to seal the end of probe 53 Within thereceiving housing. At this time, the fluid control devices respectivelyin the tanker and in the mooring may be opened to elfect loading ordischarging of the fluid cargo. It will be apparent that a reversesequence of operation will bring about disengagement of the partsdescribed, permitting withdrawal of the tanker from the mooring.

It will be further observed that probe 53 has an enlarged diametricalsection 530 immediately forward of the clamps 63. Section 53 defines ashoulder permitting positive engagement of the clamps 61 behind section53 and perventing withdrawal of the probe 53 from the housing 45. Thisarrangement not only assures positive fluid coupling of the parts, butis intended as well to comprise a structural link between the tanker andthe mooring for securing the tanker thereto. It will be understood thatthe structures involved are necessarily massive, it being contemplated,for example, that the diameter of probe 53 shall be in the order of 36inches. Consequently, the probe 53 may be designed to comprise at thesame time a structural link for mooring the vessel and will havesuificient volumetric capacity to allow loading or discharging of thevessel within the time limits usually assigned to this operation.

It will be understood that the foregoing description relates to aparticular embodiment or embodiments and is necessarily merelyrepresentative of the principles and structures of the presentinvention. Accordingly, in order to ascertain more fully the nature andscope of the invention, attention is drawn to the following claims, inwhich I claim:

1. Fluid conduit discharging and loading apparatus for a mobile marinevessel comprising a station anchored to the sea bottom and capable ofmooring said vessel, means in said station for receiving a bow portionof said vessel in nesting engagement, means for adjusting said how receiving portion at predetermined vertical distances from said seabottom, fluid conduit means in said vessel and in said station,respective coupling means associated with said conduit means located inthe bow portions of said vessel and in the receiving portions of saidstation, and means for actuating said means to connect said conduitmeans in said vessel and station.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bow portion of saidvessel comprises a bulb, said bulb housing a telescopically-movableprobe extendable into receiving apparatus located within said station.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said probe and receivingapparatus comprise a structural link sufficient to moor said vessel tosaid station.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the receiving means in saidstation includes means for moving said receiving means in rotation andin elevation to preposition said receiving means relative to said bowportions prior to said direct engagement.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said receiving means furtherincludes apparatus for aligning the respective coupling means afterengagement of said receiving and bow portions of said station andvessel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 which further includes means forpermitting universal movement of said receiving means relative to saidstation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said station comprises afixed base, a series of piles rising from said base and secured to abase ring, means including motor means for effecting rotation of saidring relative to said base, an upper ring rigidly secured to the upperends of said piles, a shield secured to selected ones of said piles,means including motor means for effecting movement of said shieldaxially of said piles, said receiving means being connected for movementthereof to said shield when the latter is carried in rotation by saidpiles relative to said base and moved axially of said piles to lower orelevate said shield.

8. Apparatus for discharging or loading fluid from a mooring station fortanker vessels and the like comprising means adapted to receive aportion of said vessel in nest- 20 ing engagement therein, fluidcoupling means in said receiving means and means for actuating saidcoupling means, said receiving means being shaped to receiving the bulbportion of the bow of said vessel and said coupling means includingmotorized remotely-controllable means for aligning said coupling meanswith said bulb and corresponding coupling means therein and foractuating said coupling means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the receiving means isremotely controllable both in rotation and elevation to position saidreceiving means relative to said tanker.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,308,743 1/1943 Bulkley et a1.6146.5 2,849,200 8/ 1958 Person. 3,093,167 6/1963 McCammon 141-3873,349,816 10/ 1967 Mowell et al 141387 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,818 5/ 1937Great Britain.

HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

